Criminal Justice in Kansas

signed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 2182: Prohibiting a sheriff from charging a fee for service of process for proceedings under the protection from abuse act and the protection from stalking, sexual assault or human trafficking act.

HB 2182 prohibits Kansas sheriffs from charging fees for serving court documents in protection order cases under the Protection from Abuse Act and the Protection from Stalking, Sexual Assault, or Human Trafficking Act. This means victims seeking these specific protections will not face a $15 service fee (standard for most cases) when legal documents are delivered. The bill amends Kansas law to explicitly exempt these proceedings from the standard fee structure. This removes a financial barrier for individuals accessing court-ordered protections in abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or trafficking cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Violent Crime

signed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 2222: Requiring ignition interlock device manufacturers to pay fees to the state for the administration of the ignition interlock program.

HB 2222 requires ignition interlock device (IID) manufacturers to pay fees to the Kansas Highway Patrol for program administration. Manufacturers must pay a one-time $10 fee per device installed after July 1, 2025, plus a $5 monthly fee per device in use (with exceptions for low-income users meeting specific criteria). The collected fees fund the IID fee program fund, which covers the state’s oversight, monitoring, and administration of the ignition interlock program. This directly affects IID manufacturers by creating a new cost structure, while low-income individuals eligible for reduced fees (based on income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level or participation in certain assistance programs) pay only 50% of device costs. The bill amends Kansas law to establish these requirements and creates the dedicated fund for program expenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

signed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 2215: Modifying the definition of public-private partnership to increase the allowable cost-share limit for expenditures by the department of corrections on certain correctional institution construction projects.

This bill increases the maximum percentage of construction costs the Kansas Department of Corrections (DOC) can cover in public-private partnerships for correctional facility projects, raising it from 25% to 50% of total project costs. It directly affects the DOC and private entities - such as corporations, non-profits, or faith-based organizations - partnering on building or renovating correctional facilities. The key change modifies the legal definition of "public-private partnership" to allow the DOC to pay up to half the project costs, expanding opportunities for such collaborations. This adjustment simplifies the cost-sharing structure without altering project requirements or oversight.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2405: Enacting the adult use cannabis regulation act to regulate the cultivation, manufacturing, possession and sale of cannabis in this state.

HB 2405 establishes a legal framework for regulating cannabis use by adults in Kansas. It requires businesses to obtain licenses for activities like growing, manufacturing, transporting, and selling cannabis, while imposing a tax on sales to fund a new "cannabis business regulation fund." The bill also provides exemptions from certain drug-related criminal penalties for adults possessing or using cannabis within the regulated system. This legislation replaces existing cannabis laws and amends specific Kansas statutes to create the new regulatory structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 15: Authorizing the director of alcoholic beverage control to issue licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquor to persons convicted of a felony if such conviction is more than 10 years old.

SB 15 would amend Kansas liquor licensing laws to allow the director of alcoholic beverage control to issue licenses to individuals convicted of felonies if the conviction occurred more than 10 years before the license application and the applicant demonstrates sufficient rehabilitation. Currently, felony convictions automatically disqualify applicants under K.S.A. 41-311. The bill specifically revises this rule to create an exception for those meeting the 10-year timeline and rehabilitation standard. This directly affects people with past felony convictions seeking to operate liquor businesses in Kansas.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2178: Allowing persons with felony drug convictions to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

HB 2178 removes a restriction that previously barred Kansas residents with felony drug convictions from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The bill amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 39-709) to allow these individuals to qualify for SNAP if they otherwise meet income and resource requirements. This change directly affects Kansans with past felony drug convictions who were previously ineligible for food assistance despite meeting other SNAP criteria. The bill does not alter other SNAP eligibility rules but eliminates a specific barrier to accessing nutrition aid. It is currently pending in the Committee on Welfare Reform.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 110: Prohibiting the use of restraints during hearings under the revised Kansas juvenile justice code unless restraints are deemed appropriate by the court.

SB 110 prohibits the use of physical restraints on juveniles during court hearings under Kansas' juvenile justice code, directly affecting minors appearing in juvenile court. The bill allows exceptions only if a court makes specific written findings that restraints are the least restrictive option necessary to prevent harm, address a flight risk, or manage disruptive behavior that poses a safety threat. Courts must document recommendations for restraints, order the minimal necessary restraints, and ensure juveniles can handle documents during hearings. The law explicitly bans restraining juveniles to walls, floors, or furniture during hearings.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 208: Prohibiting the use of any prone restraint on a juvenile who is in custody at a juvenile detention facility or juvenile correctional facility or being assessed as part of the juvenile intake and assessment system.

SB 208 prohibits the use of face-down restraint (prone restraint) on juveniles aged 10-18 who are in juvenile detention or correctional facilities or undergoing intake assessments. It directly affects juvenile detention centers, correctional facilities, and staff conducting intake assessments. The law explicitly bans this restraint method in two specific settings: while juveniles are held in custody at these facilities or during the assessment process. This policy change is part of Kansas' juvenile justice code, aiming to improve safety and care standards for minors in custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 183: Creating the crimes of interference with a security camera in a correctional facility and aggravated interference with a security camera in a correctional facility and providing criminal penalties therefor.

SB 183 creates two new criminal offenses in Kansas: "interference" (intentionally covering a security camera in a correctional facility without permission) and "aggravated interference" (intentionally removing, damaging, or covering a camera during a riot without permission). It directly affects individuals who tamper with security cameras in jails, prisons, or juvenile detention facilities, as defined by Kansas law. Penalties include a class A misdemeanor for basic interference and felonies ranging from severity level 9 to 6 for aggravated cases. The law aims to protect camera functionality for security monitoring in correctional settings.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 187: Requiring certain records and files to be automatically expunged from a juvenile's record.

SB 187 automatically expunges most juvenile court records related to non-serious offenses once a case concludes, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects juveniles in Kansas who were adjudicated for offenses that would not be classified as serious crimes if committed by an adult. The bill excludes records involving serious offenses like murder, rape, child exploitation, or aggravated crimes listed in subsection (b), and also prevents expungement for those required to register under Kansas' offender registration law. No fee is charged for automatic expungement under this law, though manual applications for unexpunged records remain possible with a $176 fee.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

All criminal justice bills